<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
This Surah takes its name (Bani Israil) from v. 4. But this name is
merely a distinctive appellation like the names of many other surahs
and not a descriptive title, and does not mean that "Bani Isra'il" is
the theme of this Sarah.
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
The very first verse indicates that this Surah was revealed on the
occasion of <em>Mi`raj</em> (Ascension). According to the Traditions and books
on the life of the Holy Prophet, this event happened one year before
Hijrah. Thus, this Surah is one of those which were revealed in the
last stage of Prophethood at Makkah.
</p>
<h2>Background</h2>
<p>
The Holy Prophet had been propagating <em>Tauhid</em> for the previous twelve
years and his opponents had been doing all they could to make his
Mission a failure, but in spite of all their opposition, Islam had
spread to every corner of Arabia and there was hardly any clan which
had not been influenced by his invitation. In Makkah itself the true
Believers had formed themselves into a small community and were ready
and willing to face every danger to make Islam a success. Besides them,
a very large number of the people of Aus and Khazraj (two influential
clans of Al-Madinah) had accepted Islam. Thus the time had come for
the Holy Prophet to emigrate from Makkah to Al- Madinah and there
gather together the scattered Muslims and establish a state based on
the principles of Islam. 
</p>
<p>
These were the conditions when <em>Mi`raj</em> took
place and on his return the Holy Prophet brought down the Message
contained in this Surah.
</p>
<h2>Theme and Topics</h2>
<p>
This Surah is a wonderful combination of warning, admonition and
instruction, which have been blended together in a balanced proportion.
</p>
<p>
The disbelievers of Makkah had been admonished to take a lesson from
the miserable end of the Israelites and other communities and mend
their ways within the period of respite given by Allah, which was
about to expire. They should, therefore, accept the invitation that
was being extended by Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) and the
Quran; otherwise they shall be annihilated and replaced by other
people. Incidentally, the Israelites, with whom Islam was going to
come in direct contact in the near future at Al-Madinah have also been
warned that they should learn a lesson from the chastisements that
have already been inflicted on them. They were warned, "Take advantage
of the Prophethood of Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) because
that is the last opportunity which is being given to you. If even now
you behave as you have been behaving, you shall meet with a painful
torment." 
</p>
<p>
As regards the education of mankind, it has been impressed
that human success or failure, gain or loss, depends upon the right
understanding of <em>Tauhid</em>, life-after- death and Prophethood. Accordingly,
convincing arguments have been put forward to prove that the Quran is
the Book of Allah and its teachings are true and genuine the doubts of
the disbelievers about these basic realities have been removed and on
suitable occasions they have been admonished and rebuked in regard to
their ways of ignorance. 
</p>
<p>
In this connection, those fundamental
principles of morality and civilization on which the Islamic System of
life is meant to be established have been put forward. Thus this was a
sort of the Manifesto of the intended Islamic state which had been
proclaimed a year before its actual establishment. It has been
explicitly stated that that was the sketch of the system on which
Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) intended to build human life
first in his own country and then in the outside world. 
</p>
<p>
Besides these,
the Holy Prophet has been instructed to stick firmly to his stand
without minding the opposition and difficulties which he was
encountering and should never think of making a compromise with
unbelief. The Muslims who sometimes showed signs of impatience, when
they met with persecution, calumny, and crooked arguments, have also
been instructed to face adverse circumstances with patience and
fortitude and keep full control over their feelings and passions.
Moreover, salat was prescribed in order to reform and purify their
souls, as if to say, "This is the thing' which will produce in you
those high qualities of character which are essential for everyone who
intends to struggle in the righteous way Incidentally, we learn from
Traditions that Mi'raj was the first occasion on which the five daily
Prayers were prescribed to be offered at fixed times.
</p>

